The “Eclipse Series 23: The First Films of Akira Kurosawa” is a wonderful collection of Kurosawa’s earlier work and if you are a Criterion Collection collector who is missing his earlier work in your collection (and have no intention of purchasing the awesome “AK100: 25 Films by Akira Kurosawa” set), then this latest Eclipse series Kurosawa DVD set is literally a must-have and is definitely recommended!
Image courtesy of © 2009 Toho Co., Ltd. © 2010 All Rights Reserved.
TITLE: The Eclipse Series 23: The First Films of Akira Kurosawa
DURATION: Sanshiro Sugata (79 minutes), The Most Beautiful (85 minutes), Sanshiro Sugata, Part Two (82 minutes) and The Men Who Tread on the Tiger’s Tail (59 minutes)
DVD INFORMATION: Black and White, 1:33:1 Aspect Ratio, Monaural, Japanese with English subtitles
COMPANY: Janus Films/The Criterion Collection
RELEASED: August 3, 2010
Years before Akira Kurosawa changed the face of cinema with such iconic works as Rashomon, Seven Samurai, and Yojimbo, he made his start in the Japanese film industry with four popular and exceptional works, created as World War II raged. All gripping dramas, those rare first films—Sanshiro Sugata; The Most Beautiful; Sanshiro Sugata, Part Two; and The Men Who Tread on the Tiger’s Tail—are collected here and include a two-part martial arts saga, a portrait of female volunteers helping the war effort, and a kabuki-derived tale of deception. These captivating films are a glorious introduction to a peerless career.
Akira Kurosawa, one of the most highly revered filmmakers of all time.
A career which began in the 1930’s up to his final directorial work in 1993, The Criterion Collection is known for celebrating Kurosawa’s oeuvre through multiple DVD releases including the most recent collection titled “AK100: 25 Films by Akira Kurosawa”. But if there was one collection that many have clamored for many years, it was his earlier films.
And now the Criterion Collection has presented us with another Kurosawa Eclipse Series set titled “Eclipse Series 23: The First Films of Akira Kurosawa” which includes his first four films: “Sanshiro Sugata” (1943), “The Most Beautiful” (1944), “Sanshiro Sugata, Part Two” (1945) and “The Men Who Tread On the Tiger’s Tail” (1945).
All four films were previously featured in the “AK100: 25 Films by Akira Kurosawa” DVD set but for those who have been collecting the Akira Kurosawa DVD’s via the Criterion Collection individually and those who previously purchased the “Postwar Kurosawa” Eclipse Series #7 set, this latest DVD Eclipse Series set is a welcomed addition to the Eclipse Series and a must-have for your Akira Kurosawa Criterion collection.
Here are our reviews for each of the films included in this DVD set:
Sanshiro Sugata (Sugata Sanshiro)
The Most Beautiful (Ichiban Utsukushiku)
Sanshiro Sugata, Part Two (Zoku Sugata Sanshiro)
The Men Who Tread On the Tiger’s Tail (Tora no o wo Fumu Otokotachi)
For any Akira Kurosawa fan, the Criterion Collection has provided us fans with quality DVD and Blu-ray releases for many years now. And for many Kurosawa fans, once you start watching one film, buy one DVD or Blu-ray, more than likely you will want to watch more and more and if you are a hardcore fan, you will more than likely want to purchase everything Kurosawa.
With that being said, I will say that the “Eclipse Series 23: The First Films of Akira Kurosawa” is most definitely worth it. For one, Kurosawa’s earliest films are not as easy to find and the fact that you can get his first four films that he directed in one set is fantastic!
But if you are a person who does not own any Kurosawa films or very few of the Criterion Collection releases, the set that you want is Criterion’s “AK100: 25 Films by Akira Kurosawa”. For 25 films, you get your bang for your buck but it’s also important to note that this set does not included the special features for the films that were released on the individual Criterion Collection DVD’s.
But this set is primarily for those looking for Kurosawa’s earliest films, the hardcore Kurosawa and Criterion fans (who must own everything), especially for those who have purchased the Criterion Collection DVD’s and the “Eclipse Series #7: Postwar Kurosawa” set and just need this remaining set to complete their collection.
As for the “Eclipse Series 23: The First Films of Akira Kurosawa”, you get Kurosawa’s directorial debut and his first four films. “Sanshiro Sugata” were enjoyable films, “The Most Beautiful” gave us a glimpse of female factory workers during World War II and “The Men Who Tread on the Tiger’s Tail” gave us an early preview of what would come in the future for Kurosawa’s Jidaigeki films.
Although I do not feel that these four films are his best films, these four films included in this set are important but also entertaining. But also you got to see how Kurosawa handled a variety of situations that was asked of him during wartime, you got to see how he set up his shots and how thorough he was not only as a director but also as a writer.
It’s important to emphasize that this set is Kurosawa’s earlier work.  The first two films were created as propaganda films during World War II (and “Sanshiro Sugata” had 18-minutes cut from the original film), the third film was a sequel which he reluctantly did at the request of the studio and his fourth film was created because there was not enough resources during wartime to commit to a major film. Also, the fourth film “The Men Who Tread on the Tiger’s Tail” was banned by the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers (SCAP) General Douglas MacArthur because the film promoted traditional Japanese values and would not be released until after 1952 when the Treaty of San Francisco was signed (the treaty officially marked the end of World War II and the end of Japan’s position as an imperial power).
Also, it is important to note that because these films are part of an Eclipse Series release, you’re not going to get the Criterion Collection high-level remastering and restoration. In fact, a few of these films do sport quite a bit of dust, scratches, film warping and some have problems with darkening issues. But by no means are these films unwatchable nor should the condition of the film impede one’s enjoyment of these four films. For films that are over 60-years-old, these films are watchable, quality differs depending on the film but I am quite grateful that we are getting these older films released on DVD.
These films are easily accessible, enjoyable and entertaining but when compared to Kurosawa’s later work, it’s like comparing apples and oranges. But at the same time, as a fan, one can see the potential in Kurosawa’s earlier work and how it would lead him to the path of making incredible and fantastic cinema.
Overall, the “Eclipse Series 23: The First Films of Akira Kurosawa” is a wonderful collection of Kurosawa’s earlier work and if you are a Criterion Collection collector who is missing his earlier work in your collection (and have no intention of purchasing the awesome “AK100: 25 Films by Akira Kurosawa” set), then this latest Eclipse series Kurosawa DVD set is literally a must-have and is definitely recommended!
